As of October, 40 percent of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers have signed up for organics recycling, making the Minneapolis program one of the most successful opt-in programs in the county.  This is an important milestone, as a study conducted before the program was rolled out estimated a 40 percent opt-in participation rate. 

Here is how organics recycling for composting works:

1)      Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers sign up for a green organics collection cart.  There isn’t any extra cost for a cart because it is already included in customers’ base fee for services. 

2)      Residents collect organics in compostable bag and bring it out to their organics cart. 

3)      Items that are accepted in organics recycling include all food scraps, un-lined non-recyclable paper products, and other compostable products.  A full list can be found at www.minneapolismn.gov/organics.

4)      Collection crews empty organics carts once a week, on the same day as garbage, and organics are brought to a commercial composting facility in Rosemount, MN where they are turned into compost instead of being incinerated at the Hennepin County Energy Recovery Facility.

To sign up for organics recycling, and for more information about organics, visit the city’s website at www.minneapolismn.gov/organics or call 612-673-2917.